Are you looking to conquer new heights? Then the Corno Grande hike is for you!
The Italian region of Abruzzo is where you’ll find beautiful green and mountainous landscapes for all kinds of outdoor activities, especially hiking. The Gran Sasso National Park is home to the famous Corno Grande peak, a must-hike when visiting. Where to go and what to expect when planning for this hike, keep reading…we’ve got you covered!
Gran Sasso National Park Overview
The Gran Sasso National Park, more appropriately referred to as “Gran Sasso and Laga Mountains National Park“, is a vast natural reserve in Central Italy. The park extends for over 150.000 hectares (370.650 acres) across 3 different regions, and its highest peaks are the tallest in the Apennines.
The park is known for being a haven for wildlife. In fact, eagles, deer, chamois and wolves are just some of the many animals that live on these lands. While the area is also well known for its diverse flora, the hiking trails are what really get most people’s attention.
When talking about the Gran Sasso National Park, you will often hear about the Gran Sasso massif, the Corno Grande, Campo Imperatore and other key words. What exactly are these places, and how do you visit them? Here is a brief summary:
• What is the Gran Sasso?
Gran Sasso is the highest mountain massif in the centre of the Italian peninsula. Massif refers to a compact group of mountains, and in the case of Gran Sasso this means it has many peaks that each have different names. While the national park extends over 3 different regions, the Gran Sasso massif is situated entirely situated in the region of Abruzzo.
The Gran Sasso is also home to the Calderone Glacier, the southernmost glacier in Europe and the only glacier in the Apennines. Sadly, the glacier’s ice volume has drastically decreased due to climate change, diminishing from 3.3 million cubic metres in 1916 to nearly nothing as of 2022. The glacier, in fact, was recently declassified and it may soon disappear. You can read more about the Calderone Glacier status here.
• What is the Corno Grande?
Corno Grande is Gran Sasso’s highest peak. Corno grande is divided into 3 peaks: western, central and eastern peak. The highest peak is the western one, called “Vetta Occidentale” in Italian, and it reaches 2912 meters above sea level.
The western Peak of Corno Grande is also the peak most visitors decide to climb, and it’s the one we’re going to guide you through in this post.
• What is Campo Imperatore?
Campo Imperatore is an incredibly vast and pictoresque plateau located in the Gran Sasso and Laga Mountains National Park. At 2130 meters above sea level, this is also the highest point you can reach by car or gondola. Moreover, Campo Imperatore is the starting point for the Corno Grande hike.
At Campo Imperatore you will find a hostel, bathrooms, a cafè and a restaurant, as well as wide parking areas, both for cars and campervans. There are also some street vendors around who sell local treat, snacks, sandwhiches such as vin brulé (mulled wine), chestnuts, and more.
How to get to Campo Imperatore
If you want to hike Corno Grande, you need to get to Campo Imperatore first. Campo Imperatore is the furthest – and highest – point you can reach by car or by cable car.
• Get to Campo Imperatore by car:
Campo Imperatore is about 50km (1 hour) by car from L’Aquila, Abruzzo’s capital city. The “Strada Regionale 17 Bis” road which leads to Campo Imperatore is entirely paved, and the views are stunning for pretty much the entire way.
An important thing to mention is that the road is only open during the summer season, and it closes during winter season due to the presence of snow. This usually happens from November to May, but it may vary depending on the year. Here is the exact location of Campo Imperatore:
• Get to Campo Imperatore by public transport
From L’Aquila, take the M6 bus towards “Base Funivia – Fonte Cerreto“. This line connects the bus terminal in L’Aquila with the cable car in Fonte Cerreto. From there, you can take the gondola which goes all the way up Campo Imperatore (1130m – 2130m).
The cable car operates every day from 7:30AM to 7PM. A return ticket costs €9 EUR during weekdays and €10 EUR on weekends. Discounts are available for kids and families. Here is the exact location of the cable car:
If you’re travelling from a city, like Rome, you can hop on the regional train and reach the main train station L’Aquila. When we visited, we took the train from Roma Termini station to Terni (in the region of Umbria), and then a train from Terni to L’Aquila, since there were no direct trains. A one-way ticket cost €13.20 EUR. Depending on where you’re travelling from, you can check TrenItalia for all train route options, times, and prices.
DETAILED GUIDE
Corno Grande Hike Overview
DISTANCE: 10.6km round-trip
TOTAL ELEVATION DIFFERENCE: 1500m (+750m/-750m)
HIKE DURATION: 7h – 9h
HIKE DIFFICULTY: moderate (difficult for non experienced hikers)
Corno Grande Hike from Campo Imperatore
The hike to Corno Grande is arguably the best hike you can do in Central Italy. You will be following the so called “via normale” (standard route), which – despite what the name would suggest – is quite challenging. We don’t recommend this hike to those who suffer from vertigo, or to people who are not particularly fit. The hike is long, steep, and you must wear proper hiking shoes to get to the top. This isn’t the kind of hike for first-time mountain hikers, but it is a very rewarding challenge for those who wish to try.
The main reason why we say this is because at certain points when reaching the peaks, not only is the path steep but often times there is no clear path and you are following in the footsteps of the hikers in front of you. At times, you also need to climb the rocks. Again, it’s most definitely not impossible but if it’s your first go at climbing a mountain while hiking keep this in mind.
Before starting with our detailed guide, below is a map with the route to the Corno Grande. However, Google Maps doesn’t have the whole walking trail and the final yellow part is missing. We recommend using maps.me for this hike, which has the whole trail and also works offline.
• Corno Grande Hike – Starting Point
The trail begins in Campo Imperatore (2130m), near the astronomical observatory of Abruzzo, and it soon splits. The path on the left, which is steeper, goes all the way up to the mountain shelter “Rifugio Duca Degli Abruzzi” (2388m). The path on the right, much flatter, is the one you should take to continue.
The trail sneaks on the side of the mountain before starting to go up. At the end of the first incline you will reach the first stop of the hike: Sella di Monte Aquila (2335 masl)
• Sella di Monte Aquila (2335 masl)
Sella di Monte Aquila is located on top of the mountain ridge, 1.8k from Campo Imperatore. Here you will find a sign indicating “Sella del Brecciaio” and “Corno Grande Vetta Occidentale“, on path 103. Sella del Brecciaio is the next stop on the hike.
Soon after the sign the trail splits again. On the right, the 104 trail leads straight up the summit on a very steep hike (“Direttissima“) that is only suitable to expert hikers. On the left, path 103 continues towards Sella del Brecciaio and that’s the direction you want to take.
It is a 1.9km long walk from Sella di Monte Aquila to Sella del Brecciaio, with stunning views on both sides. The trail is flat for the most part, before reaching the last stretch where it gets steeper. The terrain also becomes more stony.
• Sella del Brecciaio (2506 masl)
Sella del Brecciaio is the next stop on your way to Corno Grande. It is an ideal location to have a break – especially after the steep ascent – before heading towards Conca degli Invalidi.
At Sella del Brecciaio the path splits again. Avoid taking the path on the left towards “Ferrata Brizio“, as it’s currently closed due to lack of mantainance and only suitable to pro hikers. The path on the right, in the direction of Corno Grande Vetta Occidentale is the correct one. “Conca degli Invalidi” is not marked on the signs, but you will find this location on maps.me, and it’s where you want to go.
The way leading from Sella del Brecciaio to Passo del Cannone / Conca degli Invalidi is less than 1km long. The trail becomes steeper, but it’s still nothing compared to the last section of the hike.
• Conca degli Invalidi (2616 masl)
Conca degli Invalidi is the last stop before the final ascent to the Western Peak of Corno Grande. This last section is more of a climb than a hike, and you’ll often need to use your hands in order to go up. Below you can see how steep the trail really is.
This is by far the most challenging part of the whole hike. It’s long, incredibly steep and it requires to stay focused for the whole time. The trail is not clearly visible, but you need to keep following the designated path.
Also, some rocks are loose and since the mountain is so steep they could easily become a danger for those behind you. Make sure you don’t drop any, and always keep a safe distance from other hikers.
• Calderone Glacier viewpoint (2869 masl)
After such a strenuous climb, reaching the mountain ridge will be a relief. The view opens up over the Calderone Glacier, which formed thousands of years ago in a natural depression which favors the accumulation of snow during the winter months. On the opposite side of the Glacier, you can spot the Campotosto lake in the distance.
Today, the glacier has incredibly reduced in size and only a tiny part of it survives, partially covered under a thin layer of rocks. What remains of the glacier can be seen from the Calderone Glacier viewpoint, located at 2869 m above sea level.
From the viewpoint, the trail continues towards Corno Grande, the highest summit of Gran Sasso.
• Corno Grande – Vetta Occidentale (2912 masl)
The final stretch of the hike leads to the Western Peak of the Corno Grande, the so called “Vetta Occidentale”. This section of the trail isn’t particularly long nor demanding, but you still need to pay attention as you’re quite close to steep dropoffs.
At the top of Corno Grande is a big metal cross, and you’ll get to enjoy the views over all directions. The Gran Sasso massif is not far from the adriatic coast, and you can easily see the sea from the top of the mountain. This is particularly charming in winter, when you can ski on the slopes of the Gran Sasso while looking at the sea in the distance.
Best time to hike Corno Grande
Corno Grande can be hiked during the summer months, when the snow melts and the trails become accessible again. This is usually from June to October. We visited Gran Sasso at the end of October 2022, on an extraordinary warm month, and the temperatures were still very pleseant.
However, we recommend checking the weather if you plan on visiting at the beginning or at the end of the hiking season, as the conditions may change drastically.
BEST TIME OF THE DAY: The Corno Grande hike is one of those treks you want to start early in the morning. It can take many hours to complete, especially if you’re not an expert hiker, and you don’t want to get caught in the dark when you’re up the mountains.
Sleeping at Campo Imperatore
For those interested in sleeping at Campo Imperatore, you can check out “Ostello Campo Imperatore“, which is described as the highest hostel in Europe. It sits at 2115m above sea level, and it has been created in the building of the old cable car station. Rooms are available from just €30 EUR/night, and you have different options including single rooms, double rooms and quadruple rooms. Breakfast is included in the room, and you will also find a restaurant, wifi and toilets. Check out the hostel’s official website here.
Another option you may be interested in is sleeping at the “Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi“, a mountain shelter located at 2388m above sea level. Here, a bed costs €55 EUR per person and includes breakfast and dinner. Since it’s a mountain shelter – and due to covid regulations – you’ll be provided with a mattress cover and a pillow cover. You’re required to bring your own sleeping bag as the hut won’t provide blankets (which can’t be sanitized daily up the mountain). The Rifugio can only be reached on foot from Campo Imperatore. Check out the Rifugio’s official website here.
TIP: This area is also camper van friendly in case you’re thinking of visiting by van.
Corno Grande Hike – What to pack?
Packing the right things and wearing appropriate clothes can make a big difference on longer hikes like the one to Corno Grande.
The most important thing to mention is that there are no water sources along the way. The Corno Grande hike is a full-day trek, so make sure to carry enough water with you. Pack some snacks, fresh fruit and a sandwich, as you’ll want to have something to eat after many hours of walking.
Wearing proper hiking boots will be the next most important thing. The trail is often disconnected, with large rocks which are sometimes sharp and other times smooth. A good rainproof and windproof jacket is also essential, as the high elevation means strong wind and sudden weather changes.
To cut through the wind, we also recommend light jogging gloves (ones with a good grip for climbing the rocks), a hat and dress in layers.
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